On butterflies wings

On our visit to Nicaragua with CEPAD we visited a butterfly sanctuary.
Butterflies are the most beautiful and fragile of creatures. Each a precious jewel, but most transient of nature's treasures. Each one perfectly honed to fit into its own microcosm, with bright wings designed to startle and confuse. Jagged stripes breaking up outlines; but folded wings perfect camouflage on one species of tree.

Butterflies are the most significant of creatures. Each tied to its own habitat. So once that habitat has gone so has the species. They say that one flap of a butterflies wings in the Amazon can kindle a hurricane on the other side of the world.
Each one of us are interconnected by threads more delicate than a spider's web and we should not forget that.
In February  we visited projects in Nicaragua run by a local organisation called CEPAD, it works with a community with local committees over 5 years. They help to build sustainability and self reliance so that they are reshaping their own future through training in agriculture and other skills.
After 5 years when CEPAD leaves there is a vibrant local community which pass on all the skills they have learnt to friends and neighbours.

Digging small basins to collect rainwater

 Planting seeds on ridges with plenty of home made compost incorporated

Rosa an amazing lady demonstrating how she collects and stores seeds to prevent insects and deterioration

This amazing fruit orchard was made possible by digging a well to harvest water deep 

underground to water the fruit trees which is needed regularly during the long dry season

Visiting the various communities we have all been significantly struck by how climate change is deeply affecting their lives. The rains are unpredictable, sometimes not coming at all. Then in torrents so that seeds are washed away and some communities are totally cut off from the outside world with no access to the outside world for example medical emergencies. Homes need to be rebuilt away from the river if funds were available, of course the river really needs to be near to give access to irrigation in an ever drying land.
Which takes me back to the spiders web and the butterflies wings. It is our actions on the other side of the world which are causing these problems and we have a responsibility to solve them. Life is becoming increasingly difficult for these people and our inaction in the richer countries is really deplorable. We all need to change and change rapidly before this most beautiful and intricate planet becomes uninhabitable. To make a donation from the UK visit the Amos Trust website, Or you can make a donation in dollars, visit CEPAD